What is missing in the argument over warrantless surveillance of Americans is this: if the government can spy lawfully--and they can--why do they insist on doing it illegally?
Legally, they would need approval from the FISA court, which is known to grant the vast majority of requests for government warrants. They can even spy first, and file for the warrants days later. So what's the problem?
Congress has offered to revisit the FISA law with the President's needs for modification in mind and has told him they will happily change the law to make it easier for him to fight terrorists, as long as it doesn't unduly infringe on the people's rights. But the President has rejected this as well.
The only logical explanation, since Bushco has offered us none to date, is that BushCo has reason to believe the FISA court will NOT give them approval. It means that they don't want anyone in government, including a SECRET COURT set up for just these types of situations, to know what they are doing. They want to operate in complete secrecy.
Why? It's not because of Bush's rediculous explanation that the terrorists will find out what we're doing. They can easily change the law without publicly compromising the program--and they know that.
The only remaining explanation for warrantless wiretapping is this: BushCo does not want any government oversight on their actions because they know the courts would not approve of their actions or grant their warrants.
No FISA court would approve, for example, of BushCo spying on peaceful protesters, mourners, or activists. No court would approve of illegally eavesdropping on political opponents and surrepticiously gathering private information on political foes for political purposes. Both are violations of our law. We already know the government is doing the former; I would expect evidence of the latter to surface at some point as well.
Nixon--when caught doing those very same things--was impeached. He resigned--because he knew his actions were illegal. So does this President, despite what he tells us.
Currently our First Amendment (Freedom of Speech) rights and Fourth Amendment (Protection against Unreasonable Search & Seazure) rights are consistently being undermined by this administration.
If we are fighting to spread "freedom & democracy" around the world, why are we being asked to give up our own freedoms in the process? Believe me, people, it has NOTHING to do with keeping us safe. Rather, the more of our rights that we give up, the more power they take, and the more powerless we become to any abuse of their power.
If they wanted to keep us safe--if our security from terrorists was really their objective--they would have long ago secured our borders, nuclear power plants, electrical plants, ports, water, and food supply. They would have long ago built the best equipped National Guard possible--instead of decimating the Guard and leaving them with no equipment to do their jobs should, God forbid, Osama bin Laden keep his promise and pull off another attack on our land.
Today--right now--our government can accuse YOU of being a terrorist, throw you in a jail somewhere, and leave you there indefinitely with no access to a lawyer, your family, or the press. You just disappear. They can torture you secretly in a foreign prison. Or just lock you up in a place of their choosing, in or out of country. Once accused--they need show no proof--you have no rights--citizen or not, innocent or not. They can hold you without even charging you with a crime--as an "enemy combatant"--indefinitely. How could you prove your innocence? You couldn't.
Granted, the above scenario might make a great Saturday Night Movie--but it makes for a lousy democracy and a lousy country in which to live.
We're supposed to TRUST the most secretive, dishonest, manipulative, and abusive administration in our lifetimes to spy on us without a warrant and without our knowledge--and do with that information what they like--with absolutely NO OVERSIGHT?
I don't know about you, but I don't want my private phone conversations, emails, faxes, and mail monitored by ANYONE. FREEDOM FROM THAT KIND OF INVASION OF PRIVACY IS WHAT MAKES US AMERICA. The Big Brother techniques of BushCo are turning America into a TOTALITARIAN STATE.
The FISA law was established to protect Americans against such abuses by regulating Government eavesdropping. Without some sort of check on the Government, we have no power to protect ourselves from government abuse. Our democracy works because it derives it's power from the people, not the president, and because a system of checks and balances over each branch of government keeps the power of each in check.
What makes this whole scenario even more Machiavellian is that the Supreme Court--with the addition of idiologue Alito--is in great danger of becoming the enabler of BushCo's illegal actions -- rather than an impartial court of justice serving to check the powers of the Legislative and the Executive branches -- and protect the people's rights.
If you don't think that Alito was picked by this administration with their own unfettered political ambitions in mind, you are far too gullible for your own good. Everything in Alito's judicial record points to his belief in a super powerful executive branch -- at the expense of the legislative -- or the people's -- branch.
We have enough problems already with corrupt lobbyists interfering with the people's business and needs. We don't need the Supreme court condoning any of these things in the interest of the party in power--whichever party that might be.
Please continue to call on your Senators to filibuster Alito and vote against cloture. Tell them you will not accept anything less. Tell them you are counting on them to protect your rights and to keep the Supreme Court independent from political influence. Tell them to stop their own political maneuvering and do what is right for ALL of the people.
See Also:
Unchecked presidential powerUncle Sam is Listening
In Alito, G.O.P. Reaps Harvest Planted in '82 - New York Times
Alito - It's the Constitution That's At Stake
No comments:
Post a Comment